Hollyoaks Star Rachel Adedeji calls out soap over 'racial discrimination'
Hollyoaks actor Rachel Adedeji has revealed her own personal experiences of racism working for the soap, in light of the show’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement.
After Hollyoaks announced a podcast about racism and shared a video from co-star Kéllé Bryan on their social accounts, Rachel, who plays Lisa Loveday, called for the show to go further and put “systemic changes” into practice.
Rachel shared a statement on Twitter saying, “I am disappointed with Hollyoaks’ approach to showing solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.
"Did Black Lives Matter when I was told ‘You’re all the same’ by a make-up artist you employed, and remains in employment till this day?
“Did Black Lives Matter when a number of female Black actors were forced to drastically change their hair, because if not, the viewers ‘would not be able to tell them apart’?
“Do Black Lives Matter when my fellow Black cast mates are deemed angry, aggressive and too vocal?
“Did Black Lives Matter when we were referred to as ‘b******s’ by a senior member of the production team? Do Black Lives really Matter to you if over the last four years at Hollyoaks, I have only worked with ONE Black director?
“Honestly, the list goes on.”
Rachel Adedeji who joined Hollyoaks in 2016, mentioned that working on the show was “mostly positive”, but said the experiences she has encountered are “a constant reminder of how difficult it is being a Black woman in the industry”.
In response to Rachel’s statement, a spokesperson for Hollyoaks said, “We are really concerned to read Rachel’s comments on social media about Hollyoaks. We will be in touch with Rachel directly.”
Rachel was praised for speaking out by her former co-stars Jacqueline Boatswain and Karl Collins, who played her on-screen parents Simone and Louis Loveday.
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